Sponsor

Natural Resources Canada (NRC) 

Program

Artificial Intelligence for Canadian Energy Innovation

For More Information

Please visit the program webpage [1]. 

Description

This call aims to fund high-impact projects that catalyze national expertise to develop and use novel Canadian-made AI solutions to accelerate domestic energy innovation.

This call will support projects that address the impact statement by meeting all three of the following call objectives:

• Develop and use AI solutions to lower the cost, time and/or energy use of traditional methods to advance new energy innovations.
• Bring together AI and energy technology innovators to promote knowledge exchange.
• Promote Canadian energy data availability, accessibility and security across the energy innovation ecosystem.

Eligibility

Eligible Canadian Recipients will be:

1. Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada including:
   1. For-profit and not-for-profit organizations
   2. Community groups
   3. Canadian academic institutions
2. Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies where applicable.
3. Indigenous:
   1. Indigenous communities or governments
   2. Tribal Councils or entities that fulfill a similar function (e.g. general councils)
   3. National or regional Indigenous councils, or tribal organizations
   4. Indigenous (majority owned and controlled by Indigenous people) for-profit or not-for-profit organizations

The term “Indigenous” is understood to include Inuit, Métis, and First Nations individuals, or any combination thereof.

Funding Availability

The call is open to projects requesting a call contribution percentage up to 75% of total project costs. The minimum contribution from the program is $500,000, and the maximum contribution is $1,500,000. Funding is available between April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2030.

Indirect Costs

15%

How to Apply

All energy innovation funding calls are managed through OERD’s applicant portal [4], a secure platform that can be accessed by GCKey or Interac Sign-in Services. To apply, applicants must submit the EOI through the applicant portal by the deadline.